Parc de Saurupt, Nancy's Art Nouveau quarter
South of Nancy, the Parc de Saurupt tells the story of an unfinished dream: that of a smart quarter of Art Nouveau villas, launched in 1901. The project never reached its planned scale, but a few remarkable houses survive, signed by the great names of the École de Nancy, to admire on a stroll.
The dream of a garden city
In 1901 a vast property project took shape south of the city: to turn the Saurupt estate into a subdivision of well-to-do villas reserved for an affluent clientele. The idea drew on English garden cities and residential towns such as Le Vésinet, near Paris. Dozens of plots, tree-lined streets and a monumental gated entrance were envisaged. Led by the developer Jules Villard, the project called on the architects of the École de Nancy, then at the height of their creativity. The dream was ambitious: to give Nancy a smart, modern quarter conceived entirely in the Art Nouveau spirit.
An ambitious project, a partial success
Reality proved more modest than the original plan. A few years after the launch, only a handful of villas had risen: the market for large luxury houses turned out to be narrow. The project was then scaled down, opened to a more modest clientele with tighter townhouses, and the entrance gates eventually disappeared. Construction stretched over decades, so that Art Déco gradually followed Art Nouveau. Of this thwarted grand design there remains a quiet residential quarter where the attentive stroller can trace the ambitions of the early century.
Villas signed by the École de Nancy
The quarter's main interest lies in its remarkable villas, built in the early 20th century by leading architects of the École de Nancy such as Émile André or Henri Gutton. Notable among them are the Villa Les Glycines and the Villa Les Roches, by Émile André, and the Villa Marguerite. Lively roofs, bays with plant-like shapes, wrought ironwork and plays of materials all unfold the Art Nouveau vocabulary. Several of these houses are now protected as historic monuments. As they are lived in, they are admired from the street: a real pleasure for architecture lovers.
Strolling through the quarter
The Parc de Saurupt is discovered on foot, along streets lined with varied houses, between Art Nouveau villas, Art Déco residences and later pavilions. Nothing is visited inside: the pleasure is that of a free stroll, the eye caught by a stained-glass window, a gate or a façade. You can happily round off the walk with the other highlights of Nancy's Art Nouveau, such as the Villa Majorelle or the Musée de l'École de Nancy, close by. For enthusiasts, it is a more confidential yet essential chapter of the artistic adventure that made Nancy the capital of Art Nouveau.
Infos pratiques
Adresse : 1 rue des Brices, 54000 Nancy
Questions fréquentes
What is the Parc de Saurupt?
A former villa subdivision launched in 1901 south of Nancy, designed as a smart Art Nouveau quarter. The project remained partial, but a few remarkable villas survive.
Which villas can be admired there?
Notably the Villa Les Glycines and the Villa Les Roches, by Émile André, and the Villa Marguerite. They rank among the fine works of the École de Nancy in the quarter.
Can the villas be visited?
No: they are private, inhabited properties. They are admired only from the street, during a free stroll through the quarter. Please respect the residents' peace and quiet.
How to combine this visit with Nancy's Art Nouveau?
The quarter pairs ideally with the Villa Majorelle and the Musée de l'École de Nancy, close by, for a day devoted entirely to Art Nouveau and its great creators.
Wikimedia Commons — dalbera from Paris, France · Wikimedia Commons — Pymouss
